After a good day on the mountain, why go straight home? Half of the fun of the being in the mountains is the apres scene. An afternoon on the deck is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but if you can’t stay warm, it quickly turns miserable. Put on the Chaletta down, one of our warmest waterproof jackets, filled full with 700 fill down. It is also fully ski featured, with a powder skirt, goggle pocket, media pocket, and helmet compatible hood. Factor in the incredible detailing and this jacket easily transitions from the hill to the bars.

Make sure you can get ahold of your friends without taking off your gloves with the Pamir Windstopper E-Tip glove, specially made to type on your smart phone. Stay warm from head to toe with the women’s Lizzy Bizzy beanie, lined with the softest high loft fleece around, and finish with our favorite boot, the ridiculously cute and also insulated, Millennial boot. We always top it off with a New Belgium beer- what can we say? We’re partial to Ft. Collins.

When the babies start banging at the back door, asking to go play in the snow, the Insulated Toasty Toes Bunting is there to let them play to their hearts content. Fold over the mitts and booties (as in the picture, it was the only way to keep them still for long enough), they are sure to stay comfortable in the car seat or stroller, or let their hands and feet out for freedom to explore. The buntings have hoods for extra warmth on those cold, Summit County days. If Jackie is anything to judge by, these are indeed toasty as she was sweating by the time the photo shoot was over.

He has the Baby Oso Cute beanie on and she has the Baby Hoser hat. This might be the first hat he has ever had on that didn’t come off after 30 seconds. Maybe it was because he loves anything soft, or maybe because he didn’t have access to his fingers…

So you have a mountain girl who wants to be out all day with everyone else. How do you even start to keep her warm? Layer on the girl’s insulated Torina jacket with a long sleeved, 100% polyester baselayer top and baselayer bottom, a TKA 100 microfleece (not pictured), add a Lizzy Bizzy beanie on top and you’ll start ending the “I’m cold” tears. To look like a true mountain girl, add some bitty Sorels untied just right.

Need our number after she sees this post and insists on this outfit?: 1-877-TNF-BRECK

Have a little one who tears up the mountain? We love insulated jackets like the 30x jacket for the frigid Breckenridge temps. They are easier and more comfortable to layer under than the Triclimates, though less versatile. Add a cool Sideways beanie and he’s ready to make an impression at school.

One of the most difficult activities to dress for is the one where you’re sweating profusely when it’s below freezing outside. Skinning, cross country skiing, skate skiing, even snowshoeing. These high aerobic activities leave you either sweating out your shell or shivering in your fleece when the wind comes up.

The Jakson jacket is a new hybrid construction jacket released this year. The arms are Polartec Powerstretch fleece for maximum breathability. Powerstretch is one of the most efficient fabrics on the market. The outside can be coated in sweat while the inside stays warm and dry. The body is insulated with 133 grams of Primaloft with a virtually windproof nylon. If you haven’t tried Primaloft yet, go get yourself some. The warmth created by such a lightweight fabric is mind blowing. This jacket is really the best of both worlds- breathable, yet warm.

The Mountain pant is a 2-layer Gore-Tex, full side zip, shell pant. The lack of insulation allows for more tailored layering, while the full side zip means maximum air intake, short of losing your pants all together.

Top that off with a Polartec Powerstretch Ascent beanie and Apex gloves, which are windproof, but uninsulated. Stow your avy gear in the Chugach 16 pack when venturing into the backcountry. Bonus: the Chugach has an insulated hydration sleeve- which means, maybe, just maybe, your water won’t freeze this time.

Andy’s pick for the ultimate holiday gift is a Base Camp Ski Roller. The BC roller holds two pairs of skis as well as two pairs of boots, with integrated boot pockets which are accessible from both the outside and inside, for ease of packing. Lash down your skis inside and tighten the compression straps on the outside for ultimate security. The TPE laminate material is bombproof and will withstand anything the airlines can throw at it.

The Gift Guide will be up again on Monday. Have a wonderful holiday weekend and don’t forget to submit your snow dance video to win a pair of E-Tip gloves.

The Gitter Down jacket is stuffed with down, which equates directly to warmth. The plaid on the outside means he doesn’t look like the kid on A Christmas Story. The Chatter pant, with a Gore Tex membrane, is technical, but the subtle crosshatch pattern and relaxed fit allow it to be stylish. Pull up the bungee system in the cargo pocket and protect your pants from shredding under your heels. Add on a Vantage helmet from Smith paired with an Oakley Airbrake interchangable goggle to complete the look.

I love the ruffle down the front of the Lifty Triclimate Jacket. It’s subtle, yet feminine. It has a removable, synthetic insulated liner that’s perfect for wearing around town after a day of skiing.

The Riderarchy pants, perfectly loose but not falling-off-your-body huge, compliment the Lifty just right. With a little bit of insulation they take the bite off the cold days without sweating you right out of them on warm spring days.

Smith uses a women’s head mold to fit the Intrigue, so it’s shaped just right for the daintier sex. With eight vents that have both a fully open and half open options and a furry liner, it’s cuddly soft and comfortable no matter the conditions. There’s a reason you see Smith helmets paired with Smith goggles- the integration is just right. No gaper gap going on with this combination. We’ve paired the bronze fallen Intrigue with the plum alpenglow I/OS with a red sensor lens. The red sensor is our go-to lens for the cloudy days. With a light rose base tint it increases contrast, but when the sun comes out, you’re not blinded.

Think this is the perfect gift? Call us at 1-877-TNF-BRECK and we’ll get it boxed up and shipped out immediately.

Stuck as to what to get your significant other/offspring/loved one this holiday season? With a store full of innovative, exciting products, I figured we should showcase some of our staff’s favorite gear picks and offer a gift guide. Starting next week and running for a couple of weeks, I’ll be posting an outfit or piece that our staff covets. I asked everyone to pick out their ultimate holiday gift, so starting tomorrow you’ll get to see our handpicked favorites.

Some of the pieces are available through our webstore and the rest are available to order through the shop directly (1-877-TNF-BRECK).

For many years The North Face Breckenridge has supported the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center and their efforts as a a national leader in outdoor adventure education serving all people, with a specialized focus on serving those with disabilities and special needs. My first year in Breckenridge I volunteered one day a week at the BOEC and was inspired by the program and the people with disabilities that I was able to work with. In the winter much of the focus is on getting those with disabilities on the hill to participate in some form of skiing and snowboarding. Recently I looked into another similar program at MakeAHero.org. Make A Hero is similar to the BOEC in that they enable individuals with disabilities to enjoy the freedom of sports. It was great to learn about this other world class organization that is based right here in Colorado. If anyone has a little extra time this winter, I encourage you to contact BOEC or MakeAHero and volunteer some of you time. I can promise you will not regret one singe moment you spend with a disabled person on the hill this winter.

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